Folding table.



R. (5. WASHINGTON.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-27. I917.

1,279,620. PatentedSept. 24,1918.

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FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-27. l9l7.

Patented Sept. 24,1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS G. WASHINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS G. WASHINGTON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and'State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates tocertain improvements in folding tables and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which may be ,readily and convenientlyfolded or collapsed to occupy a minimum of space when not in use and especially when it is desiredto transport the table or place the same in storage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improveddevice'of this general character wherein the top comprises .two hingedly connected sections adapted to fold one upon the other when not in'use together wlth means co-acting with the under surface of the sections for effectively maintaining the same in extended or operative relation.

. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a plurality of supporting members or legs hingedly connected with the table and adapted to be folded thereagainst together with means capable of convenient operation to effectively holdthe legs in supporting position.

The invention also has for an objectto provide a novel and improved folding table including a container. suitably secured to a part of the table and in'which the several separable elements such as bolts and the like are adapted to be. placed when the table is folded or collapsed so that said elements may be easily accessible when it is desired to arrange the table in extended or operative condition.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and otherwise more convenient and advantageous.

for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

. The novel features of myinvention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

V V Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 24, 1918,

Application filed October 27, 1917. SeriaLNo. 198,908.

In order that my invention may be'the better. understood I will now proceed to describe the same withreference to th'eaccom- 'panying drawings wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a view .in bottom plan of my .ter wheels co-acting with the supporting legs being'omitted;

Fig. 2 is'a longitudinal sectional view taken through 'the deviceas illustrated in Fig.1, the supporting legs or members hav- 7 tional view taken substantially on the line -55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6.6 of Fig. 1; T

. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of one of the folding members or beams as herein employed; and V 1 V I Fig. .8 is a view in perspective of a fabric sheet. adapted to be in'sertcd'between the opposed faces of the sections of the table improved table as herein embodied, the cas- "when said sections are folded one uponthe other. Y

As herein disclosed the top of my improved table comprises two sections 1 of substantially the same configuration and which have adjacent marginal portions hingedly connected one to the other as indicated at Q'whereby said sections 1 maybe readily and conveniently folded one upon the other when the table is not in use. As

particularly illustrated in Fig. 2 it is to be noted that the hinge construction 2 is of with an extension 3 adapted to underlie the adjacent marginal portion of the second section 1 so that the outward relative movement of the sections 1 is limited and where- .by it is assurecl thatthe upper surfaces of said sections 1 will be substantially finish depending housing or socketehaving its inner faces open and in substantially transverse alinement with the housing or socket 4 each of the sections has hingedly engaged therewith as at 5 a holding member 6 substantially L-shaped in form. When the sections 1 are extended each of the housings or sockets 1 has substantially longitudinally alined therewith a holding member 6.

Each of the housings or socket members 4- is adapted to receive an end portionof a supporting member or beam 7 which is of such a length, when in applied position, as to extend beyond the longitudinally alined holding member 6. The outer or under face of the member or beam 7 is provided with a transversely disposed recess or groove 8 in which the angular or foot portion 9 of the holding member is adaptedto be seated. The holding member 6 by its frictional engagement with the member or beam 7 will serve to hold said member or beam 7 in applied position although it is to be understood that if desired, the pivotal connection of the member 6 may constitute a spring hinge without departing from the spirit of the present device or adding novelty thereto as the use of such a hinge or its equivalent is well known. By this arrangement it will be at once perceived that the supporting member or beam 7 is effectively main-v tained in applied position and serves to hold the sections 1 in either extended or operative relation. The intermediate portion of the member or beam 7 has its under faces cut away or reduced as at 10 so that the same may properly bridge the extension 3 carried by the hinged marginal portion of one of the sections 1.

Coacting with the outer end portions of each of the sections 1 are the transversely spaced supporting legs 11 preferably hollow and rectangular in cross section. The legs of each section are so spaced longitudinally of the table as to permit the same to be folded inwardly against the inner faces of the section 1 without said legs interfering one with the other. Disposed over the upper or inner end of each of the legs 11 is a metallic cap 12 which is hingedly connected at its inner margin as indicated at 14 with the under face of the co-acting section 1. Disposed around the upper or inner p01 tion of the leg 11 inwardly of the cap 12 and in close proximity thereto is a band 15 provided with a perforate extension 16 through which is adapted to be extended the outer or free end portion of the shank 17. The shank 17 is also loosely directed through an opening 18 suitably positioned in the coacting section 1 and the opposite end of said shank is, provided with thehead 19 which snugly fits within the countersunk portion 20 of the opening 18 at the outer face of the section 1. By this arrangement it will be perceived that the head 19 of' the shank 17 will be flush with the outer surface of the section 1 as is particularly illustrated in detail in Fig. 1. Threaded upon the free end portion of the shank 17 is the nut 21 which is adapted to engage the under or outer face of the extension 16 whereby the leg 11 is effectively held in supportlng position. In order to fold the leg 11 itis only necessary to remove the nut 21 and V withdraw the shank 18.

Suitably secured to the under face of on of the sections 1 is a comparatively small fabric receptacle 22 provided with an elastic mouth portion 23 which serves to maintain said receptacle normally closed. When the table is to be collapsed or folded the shanks 17 and nuts 21 together with other separable or loose parts are adapted to be placed within such receptacle so that when it is desired to reassemble or extend the table these parts may be readily located. When the table is folded or collapsed the legs 11 of each of the sections 1 fold inwardly and transversely of the sections in opposite di rections and in order to maintain the legs in such folded positions I employ a strap 24 suitably secured at one end to the under surface of the section 1 and said strap coacts with a buckle 25 also carried by the under surface of the section 1 but positioned at theouter side of the legs 11 when folded and as is believed to be clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, The marginal portions of each of the sections 1 at a predetermined point inwardly of the edges thereof with the exception of the hinged marginal portion is provided with the depending aprons 26 which serve to enhance the esthetic effect of the table when extended and it is preferred that said aprons 26 be of a width in excess of the transverse diameter of the legs 11 so that when the legs 11 are folded they will be confined within the space defined by the aprons 26. By this arrangement it will be perceived that when the sections 1 are folded one upon the other the aprons 26 aflord protection therefor. It should also be understood that if preferred the aprons may be hingedly connected to the section 1 so that the same may also be folded against the under surface of the table when the table is in folded or collapsed arrangement. In or der to protect the outer surfaces of the sections 1 which are intended to be highly polished, when said sections are folded one upon the other I find it of advantage to provide the fabric sheet 27 formed of felt or other tion of a leg 11 a block 29 of suitable material. It is also my purpose to employ in connection with the lower or outer end portions of each of the supporting members or legs 11 a caster 30 of any preferred type. It will also be understood that if desired the caster 30 may also be placed within the receptacle 23 when the table is folded or collapsed.

I also wish'to state that the various parts of my improved table may be made of material which best suits conditions and the same may be expensively finished or otherwise. I also wish to state that it is my purpose that all of the metallic parts comprised in my table be highly polished so that it will possess increased attractiveness.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a folding table constructed in accordance. with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be'obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A folding table including a top con sisting of two hingedly connected sections adapted to be folded one upon the other,

supporting legs hingedly connected with said sections and adapted to be folded thereagainst, a perforate lateral extension carried by the hinged end portion of each of said legs and positioned below the table top when the leg is in supporting position, and a clamping member disposed through a section of the top and co-acting with said perforate extension for holding the leg in supporting position.

2. A foldable table comprising a top consisting of two sections adapted to fold one upon the other, legs hingedly engaged with said sections, means for holding the legs in supporting position, a socket carried by each of the sections, a holding-member pivotally engaged with each of the sections and sup porting members underlying the sections when extended and having an end portion insertible in a socket of one of the sections,

' the holding member of the second section co-acting with the opposite end portion of said member, the hinged marginal portion of one of the sections of the top being pro- Gopies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner Washington, D. 0."

vided with an extension adapted to underlie the adjacent marginal portion of the second section for limiting the relative outward movement of the sections. V

3. A foldable table comprising a top consisting of two sections adapted to fold one.

upon the other, legs hingedly engaged with said sections, means for holding the legs in supporting position, a socket carried by each of the sections, a holding member pivotally engaged with each of the sections and supporting members underlying the sections when extended and having an end portion insertible in a socket of one of the sections, the holding member of the second section co-acting with the opposite end portion of said member, said holding 'member being substantially L-shaped in form, said supsition, the hinged marginal portion of one of the sections being provided with an ex tension adapted to underlie the adjacent marginal portion of the second section for limiting the relative outward movement of the sections, and means co-acting with said sections for holding thesame extended.

5. A folding table including a top consisting of two hingedly connected sections adapted to be folded one upon the other, supporting legs hingedly connected with said sections and adapted to be folded thereagainst, a perforate lateral extension carried by the'hinged end portion of each of said legsand positioned below the table top when the leg is in supporting position, a clamping member disposed through a. section of the top and co-acting with said perforate extension for holding the leg in supporting position, and means carried by each of the sections and eo-acting with the sup- 7 porting legs for holding said supporting legs in folded position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

V RUFUS G. WASHINGTON. Witnesses: I I 7 WM. J. Hum, CHRIS. A. JENSEN.

oi. Patents, 

